Dieruff Grad New Cno Head

Wendy Janet Bossons has been hired to succeed Maryjean DeSandes as executive coordinator of the Allentown Community of Neighborhood Organizations (CNO).

DeSandes stepped down last month after three years in the post to accept a position as director of volunteers at Sacred Heart Hospital.

Bossons graduated in December from Slippery Rock University, where she received a bachelor's degree in political science.

While at Slippery Rock, she was coordinator of the campus program for the Commonwealth Association of Students, a lobbying organization to press for low tuition at state colleges. She also was the group's representative to the school Student Government Association.

She spent a semester in 1983 as an intern for state Rep. Joseph Steighner, a Butler County Democrat. Her duties included communicating with his constituents, referring them to appropriate agencies for assistance and writing reports.

The 23-year-old Bossons said she will be involved in trying to get funding for CNO, conducting leadership-training programs for volunteers and "the grass-roots politics of the city."

Born and raised in Allentown, she is a daughter of Marilyn Pezoldt. She is a 1979 graduate of Dieruff High School. She was a columnist for the school newspaper, The Leader.

John Gumhold, a member of the CNO personnel committee, expressed appreciation for the interest of 35 people who applied for the coordinator position.